JERUSALEM - An Israeli strike against a rocket launcher this week wound up killing two Palestinian children who had been playing nearby.

Israeli investigators told the newspaper Haaretz the youngsters had simply been playing tag near Qassam rocket launchers and had not been helping the crew collect the devices as had been earlier reported.

Israeli troops in Gaza opened fire on the launchers Tuesday, killing two children and wounding a third.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the launchers had been recently used to lob rockets at Israel. The IDF said the squad could not determine the ages of the children, and that their movements suggested they might be helping reload the launchers.